Body Mass Index

Vestigial echoes: greygreen manifests
within cloven roof market,
musky tropes of former selves,
wry mirrored in sly, sharp glances;
panes full of promise and remainders.

Rheumy eyes diamond slice,
cut cost in portion, size
and sell by date,
plastic flashed in wrapper,
carrier bag,
recycled shoe liner for a rainy day.

Can't buy or squirrel bury Parmesan
Pepys-like in flames of recession
but this is not history:

here, now, undercover,
it burns fiercer in their need
than a Bankers incinerated Statement,
shrieks Feed Me,
in unoiled squeaks of tartan
shopping trolley wheels.
Smells of dried blood as copper
cools at the touch of parchment skin.

Hunger often mind stalked me,
smokey shade on my future
at the end of life,

on Butchers row,
dreams of sharper teeth,
fills my gut with fear.